The Corporate Disciplines
This is the last week of our sermon series, “Getting the Church to Work: Gifts, Leadership & Disciplines. It’s been a fun journey, about 8 weeks’ worth! Through this process, I pray everyone has learned something.
Today we are talking about the Corporate Disciplines which are Disciplines that are practiced with, to and amongst other Christians. They are Confession, Worship, Guidance, & Celebration. Before we go too much further, let’s pause to read the Scripture for the morning. It is going to be Psalm 138. If you would, read along with me.
1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
3 When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.
4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.
6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
First up this morning is confession. But when I say confession, usually we think of Catholics and going in the box to talk to the Priest. Well, confession is more than talking to a priest and it’s much more than a thing that is between you and God. We have to confess our sins to one another; James 5:16 talks about this, “16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” The problem is, we get to the point where we are convinced that we are alone in our sins. We mustn’t isolate ourselves in our sin. If we do this, we very well may retreat into ourselves and put on our ‘perfect face’ for all those while living in hypocrisy. This is the reason many people outside of the churches do not go to church is because of our lack of confession. We fail to tell people about our failures and faults…then we get our self-righteous gig’s up about homosexuality, abortion, murder and all of the ‘big’ sins, while we forget that we are everyday normal sinners too. We have skeletons hiding somewhere in our closets that need to come out too. We have to realize that we are in good company when it comes to sin. Everyone sitting in this church today is very skilled at sinning. We shouldn’t think that we have anything to hide about ourselves because the person sitting across the aisle is thinking the same exact thing.
Confessing our sin can bring about a serious realization that we have freedom to confess to others and move on to some real healing. Have you ever hidden something away? Are you still doing it? If you already confessed what you had hidden, do you remember the relief you felt when you finally did confess it? It is a liberating feeling…and the sin seems so silly afterwards. Confessing has that power to release the hurt and enable us to move on.
When you do something wrong, do you say, “I’m sorry”? Do you ask for forgiveness? We have the power to ask it and give it out as Christians. Once we’ve confessed our sin, it is forgiven!
One more thing about confession; it begins with a deep sorrow. However, confession has to come to an end sometime. It always ends in joy. Do not let yourself continually be beaten down by yourself. Allow yourself to feel the forgiveness of God and the joy that comes after. Make the change of heart to do everything to avoid the sinful life…confess you sins to one another.
Worship is what we’re doing right now. We’re gathering together as a group and worshipping God for the goodness that he brings about in our land. When we truly worship God, we will be able to know, feel and experience the Resurrected Christ in our midst. God should be the only one we worship. We shouldn’t be praying to someone or something else. We shouldn’t put anything else ahead of God. That is why last week I said to do away with anything that produces an addiction. That is idolatry…putting it ahead of God. We need to see God for who he is. When we do this, God moves us to confession. When we confess, it ends in joy, which is where we worship God for who he is and what he’s done for us. We worship God because he chose to act. He created, which he did not have to do. His name means, “the self sustaining one”. God lacks nothing nor needs anything. He wanted us. Then, after we messed things up in the garden, God saw fit to act and send Christ to the world to die for our sins. He provided a way for salvation. We do not deserve it, nor will we do anything to deserve it…accepting his son is the only way to get it.
As far as our priority in worship, it should be God. It isn’t the music, sermon, offering, communion…nothing but God alone is the priority in worship. There is a song called “Heart of Worship”. I want to read the chorus for you. “I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about you, It's all about you, Jesus, I'm sorry Lord for the things i've made it, when it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus.” That chorus says it all. It is all about Jesus, if we are making it about the style of music, frequency of communion, how much we’re putting in the offering plate or how terrible the sermons are, we’ve missed the point. It’s about Jesus, not those things. It’s about worshipping our risen Savior…God the Father, and our Counselor, the Holy Spirit. Worship occurs by experiencing the glory and radiance of God during every activity that we engage in. Work, play, sleep, eat…we have to prepare ourselves to worship God.
When I went on the Walk to Emmaus last year, my group chose to go back to the Agape Chapel. Now, this place is somewhere that is set up to be where people come and pray for the people on the walk. As we went back and got to the door, our guide told us to take off our shoes and socks, because the ground on which we stand is holy. It’s what God told Moses when God spoke to him from the burning bush. We went in and when we decided to pray there, we could all feel the power within that place. It was AMAZING. It was one of the few times when we were in worship that I felt that kind of power. The kind of power that makes you shake when you pray…that you pray words and can’t even remember what you prayed for…the kind of power that moves grown men and women to tears. That is the kind of experience we should be having…feeling the presence of God, the glory and radiance of him. That is why we worship. All of the elements, music, sermon, offering, communion, fall into place when we focus correctly on God.
Guidance is up next and it refers to the guidance of the Holy Spirit upon our individual lives. If we do this, it turns to a “corporate” guidance. Now, this does not mean that only a select few leaders or individuals, not just our Board or Elders, but church as a whole. Our church as a whole needs to be involved in seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. The problem is, our culture is so focused on individuality that we’ve lost the ability to be guided as a whole. We must decide together to live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That is why we need people with all sorts of gifts. Together and only together can we do it. When we have issues that are brought up, the decisions about these things must not be entered into lightly. We must seek the counsel of others and as a group and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then, we must come together formulate an opinion together. We must not seek compromise, but God-given unity. If we do not have this unity, even if one person is not on board, we need to still remain open…on all ends to pursue it until we all have reached unity. We have to handle this with grace.
When we cannot come to agreements…when splits do happen and ministries do part company, like with Paul and Barnabas did over John Mark, we must pray for the other part and ask God’s blessing upon them. Splitting with nastiness, harsh words and ugliness cannot be allowed. We must pray that they find God and are successful in their ministry going forward.
Finally, we come to Celebration. You remember the old 80’s song, *singing, “Celebrate good times come on! Let’s Celebrate!” The discipline of Celebration is exactly that. Celebration brings joy…and joy makes us strong. Celebration is how we get through tough times, good times, or any time. Tough times come…like a teenager who has lost the innocence that used to be…we celebrate with joy at the time when he or she comes back to their right mind. When a mother is groaning in pain, but she looks forward to the point when the baby is here and she becomes a mother…all the childbearing pain is made worth it. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and it comes from being obedient to Christ. “Trust & Obey”, the old hymn still rings true. The chorus goes, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” We have to be obedient to Christ at all times. Joy isn’t found by attending the latest and greatest church, concert, or gathering. Joy is only found in obedience. It is the result of properly pursuing the Spiritual Disciplines. Following the Disciplines brings the type of transforming joy that changes lives. Don’t celebrate if you don’t feel it. Go back and work on the other disciplines to build it up in your life.
Another way to bring joy by celebrating is to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and various milestones in life! It can rid us of sadness. Then, we can learn to have the carefree worriless lifestyle. Feasts in the OT are there for a reason. We are called to celebrate.
So do you have the life changing transformation point in your life? Have you reached that point? Do you have the joy in your life that comes from being obedient to Christ? Devote your life to him today.
Today we are talking about the Corporate Disciplines which are Disciplines that are practiced with, to and amongst other Christians. They are Confession, Worship, Guidance, & Celebration. Before we go too much further, let’s pause to read the Scripture for the morning. It is going to be Psalm 138. If you would, read along with me.
1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
3 When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.
4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.
6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
First up this morning is confession. But when I say confession, usually we think of Catholics and going in the box to talk to the Priest. Well, confession is more than talking to a priest and it’s much more than a thing that is between you and God. We have to confess our sins to one another; James 5:16 talks about this, “16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” The problem is, we get to the point where we are convinced that we are alone in our sins. We mustn’t isolate ourselves in our sin. If we do this, we very well may retreat into ourselves and put on our ‘perfect face’ for all those while living in hypocrisy. This is the reason many people outside of the churches do not go to church is because of our lack of confession. We fail to tell people about our failures and faults…then we get our self-righteous gig’s up about homosexuality, abortion, murder and all of the ‘big’ sins, while we forget that we are everyday normal sinners too. We have skeletons hiding somewhere in our closets that need to come out too. We have to realize that we are in good company when it comes to sin. Everyone sitting in this church today is very skilled at sinning. We shouldn’t think that we have anything to hide about ourselves because the person sitting across the aisle is thinking the same exact thing.
Confessing our sin can bring about a serious realization that we have freedom to confess to others and move on to some real healing. Have you ever hidden something away? Are you still doing it? If you already confessed what you had hidden, do you remember the relief you felt when you finally did confess it? It is a liberating feeling…and the sin seems so silly afterwards. Confessing has that power to release the hurt and enable us to move on.
When you do something wrong, do you say, “I’m sorry”? Do you ask for forgiveness? We have the power to ask it and give it out as Christians. Once we’ve confessed our sin, it is forgiven!
One more thing about confession; it begins with a deep sorrow. However, confession has to come to an end sometime. It always ends in joy. Do not let yourself continually be beaten down by yourself. Allow yourself to feel the forgiveness of God and the joy that comes after. Make the change of heart to do everything to avoid the sinful life…confess you sins to one another.
Worship is what we’re doing right now. We’re gathering together as a group and worshipping God for the goodness that he brings about in our land. When we truly worship God, we will be able to know, feel and experience the Resurrected Christ in our midst. God should be the only one we worship. We shouldn’t be praying to someone or something else. We shouldn’t put anything else ahead of God. That is why last week I said to do away with anything that produces an addiction. That is idolatry…putting it ahead of God. We need to see God for who he is. When we do this, God moves us to confession. When we confess, it ends in joy, which is where we worship God for who he is and what he’s done for us. We worship God because he chose to act. He created, which he did not have to do. His name means, “the self sustaining one”. God lacks nothing nor needs anything. He wanted us. Then, after we messed things up in the garden, God saw fit to act and send Christ to the world to die for our sins. He provided a way for salvation. We do not deserve it, nor will we do anything to deserve it…accepting his son is the only way to get it.
As far as our priority in worship, it should be God. It isn’t the music, sermon, offering, communion…nothing but God alone is the priority in worship. There is a song called “Heart of Worship”. I want to read the chorus for you. “I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about you, It's all about you, Jesus, I'm sorry Lord for the things i've made it, when it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus.” That chorus says it all. It is all about Jesus, if we are making it about the style of music, frequency of communion, how much we’re putting in the offering plate or how terrible the sermons are, we’ve missed the point. It’s about Jesus, not those things. It’s about worshipping our risen Savior…God the Father, and our Counselor, the Holy Spirit. Worship occurs by experiencing the glory and radiance of God during every activity that we engage in. Work, play, sleep, eat…we have to prepare ourselves to worship God.
When I went on the Walk to Emmaus last year, my group chose to go back to the Agape Chapel. Now, this place is somewhere that is set up to be where people come and pray for the people on the walk. As we went back and got to the door, our guide told us to take off our shoes and socks, because the ground on which we stand is holy. It’s what God told Moses when God spoke to him from the burning bush. We went in and when we decided to pray there, we could all feel the power within that place. It was AMAZING. It was one of the few times when we were in worship that I felt that kind of power. The kind of power that makes you shake when you pray…that you pray words and can’t even remember what you prayed for…the kind of power that moves grown men and women to tears. That is the kind of experience we should be having…feeling the presence of God, the glory and radiance of him. That is why we worship. All of the elements, music, sermon, offering, communion, fall into place when we focus correctly on God.
Guidance is up next and it refers to the guidance of the Holy Spirit upon our individual lives. If we do this, it turns to a “corporate” guidance. Now, this does not mean that only a select few leaders or individuals, not just our Board or Elders, but church as a whole. Our church as a whole needs to be involved in seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. The problem is, our culture is so focused on individuality that we’ve lost the ability to be guided as a whole. We must decide together to live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That is why we need people with all sorts of gifts. Together and only together can we do it. When we have issues that are brought up, the decisions about these things must not be entered into lightly. We must seek the counsel of others and as a group and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then, we must come together formulate an opinion together. We must not seek compromise, but God-given unity. If we do not have this unity, even if one person is not on board, we need to still remain open…on all ends to pursue it until we all have reached unity. We have to handle this with grace.
When we cannot come to agreements…when splits do happen and ministries do part company, like with Paul and Barnabas did over John Mark, we must pray for the other part and ask God’s blessing upon them. Splitting with nastiness, harsh words and ugliness cannot be allowed. We must pray that they find God and are successful in their ministry going forward.
Finally, we come to Celebration. You remember the old 80’s song, *singing, “Celebrate good times come on! Let’s Celebrate!” The discipline of Celebration is exactly that. Celebration brings joy…and joy makes us strong. Celebration is how we get through tough times, good times, or any time. Tough times come…like a teenager who has lost the innocence that used to be…we celebrate with joy at the time when he or she comes back to their right mind. When a mother is groaning in pain, but she looks forward to the point when the baby is here and she becomes a mother…all the childbearing pain is made worth it. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and it comes from being obedient to Christ. “Trust & Obey”, the old hymn still rings true. The chorus goes, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” We have to be obedient to Christ at all times. Joy isn’t found by attending the latest and greatest church, concert, or gathering. Joy is only found in obedience. It is the result of properly pursuing the Spiritual Disciplines. Following the Disciplines brings the type of transforming joy that changes lives. Don’t celebrate if you don’t feel it. Go back and work on the other disciplines to build it up in your life.
Another way to bring joy by celebrating is to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and various milestones in life! It can rid us of sadness. Then, we can learn to have the carefree worriless lifestyle. Feasts in the OT are there for a reason. We are called to celebrate.
So do you have the life changing transformation point in your life? Have you reached that point? Do you have the joy in your life that comes from being obedient to Christ? Devote your life to him today.
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